LeRoy A. Swim

Born April 11, 1932 in Crandon, to Leslie and Edna (Crum) Swim, he grew up in the Lena-Oconto Falls area and graduated from Lena High School in 1950, where he was Captain of the football team and a scholar athlete. He joined the Army National Guard (Company C, 1st Brigade, 127th Infantry, 32nd Division in Oconto), before he graduated with special permission in 1950 at age 17. His leadership abilities earned him the rank of Master Sergeant four years later in October of 1954. His unit was called into active duty from October 1961-August 1962 during The Berlin Crisis and he was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wa. An Army expert marksman, he trained a special platoon of men to become sharp shooters on rifles and B-1's.

In 1953, he married Orianne Pelishek and they moved to Green Bay. They raised six children and he was proud of their achievements. He worked at Christensen Oil Company after graduation in 1950, delivering fuel to homes in the Green Bay area and managing their tire service department. In 1973, he joined Klemm Tank Lines, opening the Madison area territory and delivering gasoline by semi-truck to filling stations in southwestern Wisconsin. He then became a dispatcher and head of the Safety and Inspection Department for the company, retiring in 1996.

A Badger fan, he enjoyed cheering for them, win or lose. He was also an avid Packer fan, attending games at both East Stadium and Lambeau Field. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed deer hunting and fishing in the Oconto area.

After retirement, he traveled to Ireland, Canada and the western United States, did carpentry projects, painting, especially gnomes on large, flat lake Superior rocks, gardening, especially tomatoes, cooking his secret recipe of baked beans, listening to Irish and Country music in his "man hut" on the balcony, reading westerns and enjoying John Wayne movies.

He will be remembered for his kindness, strong faith in God, devotion to family and positive attitude that allowed him to overcome many health issues during his later years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Edna; his mother and father-in-law, Henry and Martha Pelishek; two brothers, Eugene (Gene) and Darrell; a baby sister, Patricia and a brother-in-law, Anthony DeCleene.

Visitation was held from 4 p.m. until time of a Parish Wake Service at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Proko-Wall Funeral Home, Green Bay. Visitation continued at St. Willebrord Catholic Church on Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. until time of a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Andrew Cribben O.Praem officiated with entombment in Allouez Chapel Mausoleum. There were Full Military Honors that concluded the services. A memorial fund has been established.